How’s your new year so far? It always feels so good to put the lid on the old year and crack open a fresh new one, doesn’t it?
Last year at this time I took a moment to reflect on what-the-heck happened in the previous year. It’s like the year gains momentum as you go along and you end up speeding through the last few months and then WHOOSH! It’s over and you don’t know where it went. I particularly feel that way about 2010. And while listing out what I’ve accomplished feels a little self-indulgent, I do feel that looking back at where I’ve been definitely helps me to plan and dream about where to go next. (Both Anna Maria’s and Marisa’s post reminded me so!)
Ok, in 2010, in no particular order….
* I launched my own sewing pattern line, Make New or Make Doâ„¢, which now consists of 8 patterns! (I’ve yet to show you 2 of them)
* I attended the International Quilt Market (twice!) for the first time to promote my new sewing patterns
* I taught workshops in Virginia, Minnesota and Nebraska as well as 2 online workshops
* I did a huge revamp of my studio space for photography for an upcoming book feature
* We survived 2 February blizzards in a city that craters when there is more than a flurry of snow
* I’ve knitted up a storm (one as a result of the blizzards!)
* I’ve added a few new prints to my organic fabric collection (look for more in 2011!)
* For the 4th year running I participated in the Soho plush show “Luv-able and Hug-able” at gallery hanahou
* I decided that Facebook was not for me and deleted my account. (Why? Read Marisa’s post as we have the same feelings regarding FB)
* I offered 7 new free tutorials on my blog (will be updating the list in my sidebar shortly!)
* I’ve had a few nice magazine features, including Stitch and Make, and 2 book features: Sew Retro and Mini Quilts.
* I appeared (twice!) on the TV show Cultivating Life and the radio show FaveCrafts
* We’ve been camping a few times with the Cub Scouts and just as a family (my fave!).
* Myself, plus two other moms and a teacher, worked together to find a recycling solution for our elementary school’s poly-styrene tray problem. That’s about 4000 trays rescued from the county incinerator a week! (very proud of this)
* I opened a second etsy shop called “betz bitz” as a venue for selling off fabric and trims from my stash (more coming as I clean out the stash!)
* Hmmm, what am I forgetting?
Looks like 2010 has been a pretty good year. My little business is churning along and I am discovering more about what works and what doesn’t. There are things missing from the list that I had hoped to make happen, there were disappointments and there were bright spots. Now, as I look forward to the new year ahead, I am making lists, sketching sketches and dreaming dreams. 2011 is slowly coming into view.
I’ve read recently that instead of resolutions, some people choose a word to define their year. A touchstone or a mantra to remember as inspiration and guidance as the year unfolds. Something that reminds you how you want to “be” and not just what you want to “do”. Have you done that? What word did you choose?
Wow! You have your gooove on….this is your year.
I’ve done a “word” as opposed to a list for years.
This year my word is {{Better}}.
Looking forward to reading your blog in 2011!!
Can you share with us what you did with the lunch trays–I don’t remember reading about it. I’m sure other’s could benefit from your insight.
Hi Anonymous,
Thanks for asking about the trays. I hadn’t posted about it yet since this is a recent accomplishment! In a nutshell, the school wasn’t recycling the trays and my friend and I met w/ the school and county recycling people. It was kind of a ball of red tape but we managed to leverage a few connections and finally made it happen! All the while we had been storing the used trays in our garages hoping for a solution. 🙂 I will post the whole story sometime soon.
Thanks,
Betz
Looking forward for 2011! I’m sure it’s going to be greater than the past year.
I feel very lucky to have “met” you some time ago and I wish you all the best for the future 🙂
Wow! Busy year, Betz! I’ve got two words which keep coming back to me for the year ahead (heck, why not go for the whole decade!) : “radiant” and “effulgent” (is basically a fancier way of saying “radiant”). Either will do me just fine. 😉
Looks like you had an accomplished 2010. I hope that 2011 is even better for you. I’ve gotta go back and read about your views on FB because believe it or not, I’ve never even opened up a FB account yet! I don’t do the word thing for my theme for the year.
I don’t do resolutions either. I just set some goals to help me keep key things in focus throughout the year. I go back and review the goals from time to time to see if they are still things I want to do or to see what kind of progress I am making. It works for me. All the best to you for 2011.
Betz,
Thanks for sharing your highs and even your lows. Running a craft based business can be a bit lonely sometimes and it is good to hear successful craft designers admit that they have lows while celebrating their highs. Also thanks for the link to Marisa’s Facebook post. I have never done Facebook as I have never felt “right” about it. I had a huge discussion with a friend who is self-empoyed on New Year’s Eve and I don’t think he got it. I am so happy to see that I am not alone.
Thanks and may 2011 be wonderful and full of magic for you!
I would be very pleased with myself if I had accomplished all that! Not been quite so productive myself but have recently finished a scarf,out of recycled yarn, based on your drift scarf and am very pleased with it! I hope 2011 goes a bit slower for all of us. Happy crafting!
Teresa x
Hi Betz. So good to hear from you today. You have been a great inspiration, you know that? It’s a wonderful thing for us creative types to share with each other.
Will you be in SLC for Quilt Mkt?
I’m still working on my mantra. I’m narrowing down my finalists. Guess I should’ve started earlier. See, now there’s another finalist.
Betz you are such an inspiration to all of us. I really like the idea of a word to sum up the year instead of making resolutions…that we know we will break.
I guess since I am a Grandma who finally knows what she wants to be,and after much worry and concern opened my blog and Etsy shop.So I may have use two words to sum up my year…new chapter.
I chose the word balance
I chose the word ‘complete’, you can see why here:
http://kidscakesandcobwebs.blogspot.com/2011/01/complete.html
Thanks for the idea!
a-m x
Sounds like 2010 was a stellar year!
I keep trying to think of my word, even though I did make 3 resolutions: http://revivingremnants.com/?p=693
I love your idea of just “being” and not always “doing.” I’m to think more on that…
Your work is so inspiring! Hope 2011 will be full of new projects ideas and projects!
I don´t have a word for 2010, maybe only “wedding”, but I have one for 2011, Changes.
I totally agree on the Facebook thing. I did not realize so many others felt the same way. I thought I was just being (perhaps) an “old fogey”. LOL!